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Sunday, July 22, 2012

Shusterman, Neal.Unwholly.Simon & Schuster, 2012.

In this highly-anticipated sequel to Unwind,
organ procurement has become a very lucrative business.There is a black market for organs, and a new
group, Proactive Citizenry, has released pro-unwinding public service announcements.This same group has a new creation, a being completely
made up of all unwound parts.Camus
Composite Prime, or “Cam”, has been schooled, cultured, and unveiled to the
world as the “greatest hope” of the human race.

Connor, Risa, and Lev, are survivors of the Happy Jack
Harvest Camp disaster.Most of the world
thinks Connor Lassiter, the “Akron AWOL”, is dead, but he is actually now
running the airplane graveyard for AWOLs. Additionally, AWOLS from the graveyard are
carrying out secret rescue operations for teens scheduled to be taken to
Harvest Camps.

Risa Ward, now confined to a wheelchair, is also at the AWOL
graveyard, working and living in the infirmary jet, helping AWOL kids who have
minor injuries.

Lev Calder, “the clapper who didn’t clap”, has been sentenced
to house arrest and has a tracking device imbedded in his shoulder.He must perform community service until he
reaches age eighteen and can never publicly speak about unwinding.He has not contacted either Connor or Risa, for
fear of them being exposed.

New characters have made an appearance.Miracolina is conceived and raised in order
to save her brother, is dying from leukemia.Her parents have decided to tithe her in their repayment to God for letting
her cure her brother.Starkey, a stork,
has escaped from his unwinding order and killed a Juvey Cop.He is now AWOL and in hiding, moving from
place to place.He is a survivor who
craves and thrives on control and power.

Nelson, who got shot by his own tranquilizer gun by Connor in
Unwind, is no longer a Juvey-Cop.He now supplies black market harvesters with
kids in exchange for cash and for the kids’ eyes.But when it comes to Connor, he is out for
revenge and wants more than just his eyes.

Proactive Citizenry is hiding deep, dark secrets, and
Starkey’s stay at the airplane graveyard ey-causes the future of the AWOLS
there to be in jeopardy.Risa has an
unplanned rendezvous with Cam, and Lev tries to help Miracolina.The book comes to an exciting conclusion,
leading to the final installment, Unbroken.

Neal Shusterman has again displayed his skills as a fabulous
storyteller.The way he weaves the
characters’ stories and the book’s plot together is both extremely deft and
masterful.Characters from Unwind become even more developed and other
complex characters are introduced.

The creation of Cam is an intriguing, creepy idea.The scenes where he is relearning to talk and
think are funny and creative.I love the
way that clichés, metaphors, and similes are thrown into the dialogue when Cam
cannot come up with the right words to vocalize his feelings.Likewise, I like the way the personalities
from his many unwound parts invade his thoughts and startle him.While Cam initially comes across as a
villain, readers will find he has a softer side to him.

Starkey’s portrayal as a sneaky, passive-aggressive bad-boy
was very smart.He is given the ability
to gain others’ confidence and use that to his advantage.Additionally, Nelson, who is already
despicable, becomes even more so.I like
that although he is seeking revenge, it is Lev and Connor who actually get their
revenge on him, instead.

The book is organized into parts, namely Violations,
Whollies, Windows of the Soul, Leviathan, Matters of Necessity, Fight or
Flight, and Landings.Within each of
those parts, there are eighty-four chapters, each identified by a main
character’s name.A helpful addition to
the book is a glossary located in the front of the book, which gives readers a
look back into Unwind.The glossary is actually an answer and
question section based on the “Carnac the Magnificent” segments from the old Johnny
Carson “Tonight Show”.

Readers will not be disappointed in Unwholly.Just like Unwound, it is a real page turner! It is scheduled for release on August 28, 2012. I highly recommend it for middle school, high
school, and public libraries.